Re: another propagation question

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From: Sean A. O'Hara <sean@gimcw.org>
Subject: Re: another propagation question
To: medit-plants@ucdavis.edu
Date: Wednesday, August 12, 2009, 7:09 PM

Hi Joe -

Is there any problem growing Avocados on their own roots?
Curious that this topic came up - Deb and I noticed an Avocado tree
in our neighborhood that had fruit resembling the 'alligator pears'
she was accustomed to getting in the Cayman Islands (her familial
homeland) - very long-necked with a bulbous end.  We tried to get
permission to pick this fruit (very high up) to no avail (it is now
'gone').  I've been wondering how I might root a cutting (more
easily reached).

Seán O.

Seán A. O'Hara
sean (at) gimcw (dot) org
www.hortulus-aptus.com

> Avocados are almost always propagated by budding or grafting a
> desired cultivar onto rootstock (often an older once-desired
> cultivar).
>  
> But cuttings are possible.  Not dependable, but possible.
>  
> Some research shows that the best way is with heel cuttings of
> semi-hardwood, about 1/4 to 3/8 inch in diameter and about 6 inches
> long.  Stick stems, ideally with two nodes below soil, about 2
> inches deep in a sandy propagating mix.  Provide some shade, keep
> the humidity as high as possible and maintain the temperature of the
> sand mix at 75ºF.
>  
> Rooting may take 3 to 6 months or more and will often produce
> shoots, several inches long, before roots appeared.
>  
> Cuttings are, at best, erratic with the best reported success rates
> in the 30-50% category.  Budding and grafting have take rates of
> 50-80%.
>  
> Joe
>  
>
> Joe Seals
> Horticultural Consultant
> Pismo Beach, California
> Home/Office: 805-295-6039
>
> --- On Sat, 8/1/09, N Sterman <TalkingPoints@plantsoup.com> wrote:
>
>
> From: N Sterman <TalkingPoints@plantsoup.com>
> Subject: another propagation question
> To: "medit plants forum" <medit-plants@ucdavis.edu>
> Date: Saturday, August 1, 2009, 4:06 AM
>
>
> Can you propagate avocado from cuttings? If so, how?
>
> Nan
>
>
>
>
>